Venus Mejia

Venus Mejia joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2023. They currently serve the New Jersey department as the program associate. They work collaboratively within several programs and with program officers to further the department’s priorities and mission. They believe that self-determined health outcomes supported by and grounded in social justice frameworks and community support should be accessible to all. 

Venus has a strong professional background working in philanthropy and the non-profit sector with expertise in program design, management, and evaluation; strategy development; grants and database management; as well as funder and grantee engagement. Most recently, Venus has served as an evaluation and project management consultant for multitude philanthropic funds and non-profit organizations across the country. Venus was also the program associate at the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund where they managed grantmaking cycles of over $40 million dollars annually. Venus specializes in making connections to racial justice in support of creating and enhancing equity and trust-based grantmaking strategies. They have a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Equity from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and Public Health from Lehigh University. 

Much of their work and organizing has been within the gender-based violence, queer, and climate justice movements, which are all deeply intertwined with one another. Venus is dedicated to community-based and social-justice oriented work that sings to their soul and creates beautiful opportunities for change in our world and systems. They ground themselves in their cultural and spiritual upbringing—Venus is a lively Caribbean and Central American spirit with a deep love for the Earth and all the beings it has created a home for. Their family and ancestry are of deep importance to them personally and professionally. They work in service of the 7+ generations before them and the 7+ generations who come after. They wholly believe that they live their life in service of their community, and they do so with love, joy, and the hope of freedom. 

Outside of the office, Venus is an avid rock climber always looking to explore a new crag. They thrive when participating in outdoor activities and enjoy team-learning and sports. They have a cat, Musgo (meaning “moss” in Spanish), who loves to nap and cuddle as much as they do. Astrologically, Venus is a Libra who loves to make friends, build community, and talk astrology!